Sunday, November 20, 2011
Comfort and Joy
Is there anything better after a brisk fall walk than a hot bubbly bath in the jacuzzi tub and a bowl of spaghetti and homemade meatballs? Especially when you are fighting a cold?
Eye funny
The sun was bright on this chilly morning and as I hurriedly left the house for the grocery store to pick up snacks for fellowship time after the church service (my turn today), I shoved my sunglasses on my face. Pulling the car out of the garage, I blinked against the brightness and the odd bright/dark dissonance I was experiencing. I thought it might be the onset of a migraine but I just kept blinking and shaking my head, willing the dreaded headache to stay away.
A bit later, as I was putting together a bowl of grapes, trays of cheese and crackers, and other goodies, I noticed my sunglasses on the counter in the church kitchen - with one lens missing. No wonder people were kinda looking at me funny at the grocery store.
A bit later, as I was putting together a bowl of grapes, trays of cheese and crackers, and other goodies, I noticed my sunglasses on the counter in the church kitchen - with one lens missing. No wonder people were kinda looking at me funny at the grocery store.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Cranberry zzzzzz's
A lovely evening with friends -- dinner, followed by Muzyka's Christmas CD release party, topped off with the season's first Nantucket Cranberry Pie - made with Michigan cranberries! I'm looking forward to warmed leftovers with Greek yogurt for breakfast tomorrow.
-- Olive Koffay
-- Olive Koffay
Family Circle
In February 1918, the first Al Huntley was born in New Hampshire. In time he became the older brother to Richard and Ira.
In December 1918, Eleanor Robsky was born in New York. In time she became the older sister to twins Richard and Doris.
Al Huntley lived in rural New Hampshire until joining the Air Force inWW II. He married Ruth Huntley after the war and made a career in the military until the 1960's. Eventually he, Ruth and their four children, Della, Doug, Barb and Al Jr., settled in Enfield, Connecticut.
Eleanor Robsky lived in metropolitan New York city and married Gus Beyer. She became an English teacher and eventually she, Gus and their two children moved to Connecticut. Not long after, her brother Richard also moved to Connecticut with his wife Elizabeth and their three children, Kathy, Steve and Deb.
In 1976, Al Jr. and Deb met while both attended the University of Connecticut. Eventually they married.
In 1992, Al Sr. became gravely ill with emphysema and was admitted to a nursing home in Enfield, Connecticut. Eleanor, now a widow, had moved to Enfield and was a member of a women's group that crocheted blankets for residents of the local nursing home. When Eleanor found out that Al Sr. was a resident there, she made sure that the blanket that she crocheted was given to him.
Al Jr. and Deb knew nothing about this until many years later. By then, Al Sr. had passed away and when the family home became too much for Ruth, she sold it and moved to a senior citizen's apartment. At that time she offered Al Jr. and Deb the blanket since it was made by Deb's Aunt Ellie and given to Al's dad.
Eleanor now lives in Florida where she continues to crochet blankets for the elderly. Deb and Al continue to enjoy the blanket she made all those years ago for Al's dad.
In December 1918, Eleanor Robsky was born in New York. In time she became the older sister to twins Richard and Doris.
Al Huntley lived in rural New Hampshire until joining the Air Force inWW II. He married Ruth Huntley after the war and made a career in the military until the 1960's. Eventually he, Ruth and their four children, Della, Doug, Barb and Al Jr., settled in Enfield, Connecticut.
Eleanor Robsky lived in metropolitan New York city and married Gus Beyer. She became an English teacher and eventually she, Gus and their two children moved to Connecticut. Not long after, her brother Richard also moved to Connecticut with his wife Elizabeth and their three children, Kathy, Steve and Deb.
In 1976, Al Jr. and Deb met while both attended the University of Connecticut. Eventually they married.
In 1992, Al Sr. became gravely ill with emphysema and was admitted to a nursing home in Enfield, Connecticut. Eleanor, now a widow, had moved to Enfield and was a member of a women's group that crocheted blankets for residents of the local nursing home. When Eleanor found out that Al Sr. was a resident there, she made sure that the blanket that she crocheted was given to him.
Al Jr. and Deb knew nothing about this until many years later. By then, Al Sr. had passed away and when the family home became too much for Ruth, she sold it and moved to a senior citizen's apartment. At that time she offered Al Jr. and Deb the blanket since it was made by Deb's Aunt Ellie and given to Al's dad.
Eleanor now lives in Florida where she continues to crochet blankets for the elderly. Deb and Al continue to enjoy the blanket she made all those years ago for Al's dad.
Missed a day
Caught a cold
Fell asleep
Baileys Big Bang Blanket.
Caught a cold
Missed a day
Try to post twice today.
Fell asleep
Baileys Big Bang Blanket.
Caught a cold
Missed a day
Try to post twice today.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Happy places
Sometime last year, around this time I think, I read the book The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. I had been in my new job for just a little while and one of my officemates had read it for her reading club. I've been thinking about this book a little bit lately - and other, somewhat similar, studies.
In The Geography of Bliss, Weiner (who is a self-proclaimed grump) chronicles a year (at least I think it's a year) traveling the globe in search of the world's happiest places.
I wanna re-read this book. Anyone else? And then we can discuss it!
-- Olive Koffay
In The Geography of Bliss, Weiner (who is a self-proclaimed grump) chronicles a year (at least I think it's a year) traveling the globe in search of the world's happiest places.
I wanna re-read this book. Anyone else? And then we can discuss it!
-- Olive Koffay
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Another WOTD
Word of the day is
Pangram, n. a sentence, verse, etc, that includes all the letters of the alphabet.
The most famous pangram that I know is this one: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
I first encountered this sentence in my "Personal typing" class in 10th grade, a class that was intended to give college-bound students the necessary proficiency to type term papers. Given how desktop computers have fundamentally altered the way we write documents, this class was probably among the most useful classes that I took in high school. Anyway, our typing teacher, whose name I do not recall, used the "Quick brown fox" sentence to demonstrate his typing prowess- he could type (at least that sentence) at truly impressive speeds. I have always been a pretty speedy typist, although my accuracy is abysmal. I figure that I can type about 60 words per minute, with approximately 2-3 of them actually correct. This was a problem when I had to type directly onto paper, requiring me to buy reams of erasable typing paper for use with my first manual typewriter. Later, in graduate school, we bought a used Smith-Corona with a built in correction ribbon which saved enormous amounts of both paper and time. Of course, now with word processors, even I can turn out a pretty professional looking document not marred by excessive erasures or blotched with gobs of White-out.
But I digress.
After seeing this WOTD, I was intrigued by the idea of pangrams, so I tried my hand at writing a couple. Just to make it interesting, I crafted them as haiku.
Why defend these poems?
Quirky, crazy brain teasers
Just vexing couplets.
here's another (that I already shared on this blog)
Quiet hazy dawn
exploring cornfields on bikes
Such joyful movement.
I love to play with words. Here's another pangram with a funny new word:
pecksniffian: hypocritically and fervently affecting kindness or high moral principles.
Pecksniffian minx
quintessential hypocrite
vile showbiz judge.
Everything she always wanted
 |
| Five years old today |
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Make it 32 (or is it 63?)
1. Having my joyfinding friend identify a fun theme for the night.
2. Hot cocoa after a chilly walk with ZigZag.
3. Facebook chatting with my sweet baby girl.
4. A fleecy blanket to keep me warm while I type.
5. Holding my co-workers' warm snuggly babies (two co-workers, each with a baby).
6. Planning the annual Christmas tree cutting and trimming party with my kids.
7. Going to an event out of obligation and having a wonderful time.
8. Finding my lost leather gloves.
9. Chagall's stained glass windows as my computer wallpaper.
10. Steel cut oats with cinnamon and walnuts for my breakfast tomorrow.
11. Calvin and Hobbes.
12. Cobalt blue glass
13. Fourth Friday which falls on the Third Friday this month.
14. This line from a William Carlos Williams poem
"It is difficult/to get the news from poems/yet men die miserably every day/for lack/of what is found there."
15. My puppy lying on my feet warming them nicely.
16. Schuman's Traumerei played by Horowitz in Moscow.
17. Reading travel brochures and imagining future trips.
18. Al's best gingersnaps ever. (Time for a batch? Hint. Hint. Are you reading this Al?)
19. The red teapot that the kids gave me for my birthday last year.
20. Looseleaf rooibos tea, brewed in #19.
21. Music played on our piano.
22. Magnetic poetry.
23. Bicycle season.
24. Good socks.
25. Finding a sentence in a book that is so elegant that it takes my breath away.
26. Stealing an extra 15 minutes of snooze-time while Al is in the shower.
27. Watching old movie musicals while sewing.
28. Snipping fresh herbs from the garden.
29. Pad Thai.
30. Our kitties napping in sunbeams.
31. The first snow of the season.
32. 32 posts this month- and it's only Nov. 16!
2. Hot cocoa after a chilly walk with ZigZag.
3. Facebook chatting with my sweet baby girl.
4. A fleecy blanket to keep me warm while I type.
5. Holding my co-workers' warm snuggly babies (two co-workers, each with a baby).
6. Planning the annual Christmas tree cutting and trimming party with my kids.
7. Going to an event out of obligation and having a wonderful time.
8. Finding my lost leather gloves.
9. Chagall's stained glass windows as my computer wallpaper.
10. Steel cut oats with cinnamon and walnuts for my breakfast tomorrow.
11. Calvin and Hobbes.
12. Cobalt blue glass
13. Fourth Friday which falls on the Third Friday this month.
14. This line from a William Carlos Williams poem
"It is difficult/to get the news from poems/yet men die miserably every day/for lack/of what is found there."
15. My puppy lying on my feet warming them nicely.
16. Schuman's Traumerei played by Horowitz in Moscow.
17. Reading travel brochures and imagining future trips.
18. Al's best gingersnaps ever. (Time for a batch? Hint. Hint. Are you reading this Al?)
19. The red teapot that the kids gave me for my birthday last year.
20. Looseleaf rooibos tea, brewed in #19.
21. Music played on our piano.
22. Magnetic poetry.
23. Bicycle season.
24. Good socks.
25. Finding a sentence in a book that is so elegant that it takes my breath away.
26. Stealing an extra 15 minutes of snooze-time while Al is in the shower.
27. Watching old movie musicals while sewing.
28. Snipping fresh herbs from the garden.
29. Pad Thai.
30. Our kitties napping in sunbeams.
31. The first snow of the season.
32. 32 posts this month- and it's only Nov. 16!
31 little things.
1. Thinking of something to write about.
2. Honey Greek yogurt with chocolate chips. Yum.
3. Reading ByeByePie - always makes me laugh.
4. Savasana at the end of yoga class.
5. Lunch with the Writers Block.
6. Oreos in the cookie jar at work.
7. Really good coffee.
8. Gummy bears.
9. When I discover a new post here on Finding Joy.
10. Claudette's habit of meeting me at the door.
11. Being able to breathe through both nostrils. At once.
12. Flannel monkey pants.
13. Handmade lavender soap.
14. No bills in the mail.
15. Trail mix in the cookie jar at work.
16. Twinkly white Christmas lights.
17. Warm towels right out of the dryer.
18. Finding money in a coat pocket.
19. Tuesday dinner.
20. Listening to my daughter's voice on the answering machine greeting.
21. Even better - spending time with my daughter.
22. Fuzzy slippers.
23. Handstands.
24. Sliced avocado with soy sauce.
25. Getting a postcard in the mail.
26. Walking on warm sand, barefoot.
27. Monty Python movies.
28. Naps on Sunday.
29. The smell of Play-Doh.
30. Baby feet.
31. 31 posts this month - and it's only Nov. 16!
2. Honey Greek yogurt with chocolate chips. Yum.
3. Reading ByeByePie - always makes me laugh.
4. Savasana at the end of yoga class.
5. Lunch with the Writers Block.
6. Oreos in the cookie jar at work.
7. Really good coffee.
8. Gummy bears.
9. When I discover a new post here on Finding Joy.
10. Claudette's habit of meeting me at the door.
11. Being able to breathe through both nostrils. At once.
12. Flannel monkey pants.
13. Handmade lavender soap.
14. No bills in the mail.
15. Trail mix in the cookie jar at work.
16. Twinkly white Christmas lights.
17. Warm towels right out of the dryer.
18. Finding money in a coat pocket.
19. Tuesday dinner.
20. Listening to my daughter's voice on the answering machine greeting.
21. Even better - spending time with my daughter.
22. Fuzzy slippers.
23. Handstands.
24. Sliced avocado with soy sauce.
25. Getting a postcard in the mail.
26. Walking on warm sand, barefoot.
27. Monty Python movies.
28. Naps on Sunday.
29. The smell of Play-Doh.
30. Baby feet.
31. 31 posts this month - and it's only Nov. 16!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
and Joy for Dinner
It has been a cranky week. Fatigue is running high among students, faculty and administrators. Stress abounds and we're all getting a little snappish.
No time for a proper dinner tonight, so I met Al for dinner at the main campus dining hall before an evening event. When we were done with our meal, he took advantage of the 'one cookie for the road' policy and offered me a bite. It was a homemade oatmeal raisin cookie.
Soft and delicious.
And still warm!
No time for a proper dinner tonight, so I met Al for dinner at the main campus dining hall before an evening event. When we were done with our meal, he took advantage of the 'one cookie for the road' policy and offered me a bite. It was a homemade oatmeal raisin cookie.
Soft and delicious.
And still warm!
Joy for lunch
 |
| Guaranteed smile-maker |
Monday, November 14, 2011
Zeste de citron
 |
| Zeste de citron - extra fine |
Freshly grated ginger, too. And lavender.
I'm sure Chicken and Rosemary Stew is on the list, with all its broth-y, wine-y, vegetable-y, herb-y goodness.
Yes, it is almost 10 p.m. and I'm making a big pot of stew. It's been cooking away in the oven for almost 2 hours. I had planned to make this much earlier of course but my sister and brother-in-law invited me to join them for a burger at the Knights of Columbus Hall - a frequent Monday night thing. So I figured I'd make the stew tonight and then I'd be set for several meals this week. When it comes out of the oven, I'll stir in the zest and chopped parsley.
Mmmm ...
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Oregano
are the four herbs that survived the frost last week and made it into the house. Despite being planted in a flower pot, my rosemary plant reached shrub status this summer. Now that it is inside, ZigZag rubs up against it frequently, giving her a decidedly herbal aroma!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Happy Atoms
Just a question for today:
What is necessary for a collection of atoms (me, for instance) to feel joy? Rocks and chairs are collections of atoms, and I don't think they experience anything. It does not seem to be enough to simply be alive; while dogs seem to experience joy, I assume clams don't. I might be wrong there-- they might be as happy as clams.
I went to a Paul McCartney concert last summer at Comerica park and there were 40,000 people there all experiencing joy from Sir Paul's music and charisma. That's a lot of happy atoms.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Baby salad
All week, I've been feeling as if I'm fighting a germ invasion. I did spend a couple of days with small germ bags last weekend. Today I felt progressively worse as the day went on.
But I had volunteered to provide the salad today as part of the week of meals we've been sending for one of our artists who just had a baby. Of course, I would not make an ordinary salad the night before like a normal person might. Oh no. That would not do.
Another one of our artists had a baby last month (something in the water I guess) and when it was my salad day for her I decided to do an antipasto sort of thing since the main dish was to be lasagna. I filled up a bag with baby-sized peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes, pepperoncinis, provolone cheese and thinly sliced salami plus a bottle of balsamic vinaigrette and bagged Italian salad mix.
Today I had no idea what I was gonna do to go with the chicken pot pie someone else was providing as the main dish. But I figured inspiration would strike as I wandered the aisles at the grocery store.
Fresh produce brings me joy. And feeding others brings me joy. For nearly 45 minutes, I meandered through the produce section, collecting baby cucumbers again (who can resist their crunchy cuteness?), blackberries - on special today 2 for $1 - sugar snap peas, Babybel cheeses and baby Romaine lettuce. I snagged a bag of salad "accents" (toasted almonds and other crunchy bits with some sort of Asian seasoning). I scanned the refrigerated dressings and the selection several aisles over. None of those bottled dressings seemed quite right so I picked up my favorite rice vinegar and then wheeled to the baking aisle (why no olive oil near the vinegars? makes no sense to me) for a small bottle of olive oil with perky packaging (on special!). It all went in the bag with suggestions for assembly.
I hope the new parents enjoy the veggies. And with some good cold medicine and lots of fluids and rest this weekend, I'm looking forward to a full recovery so I can enjoy squeezing a baby soon. Maybe next week!
-- A. Choo
But I had volunteered to provide the salad today as part of the week of meals we've been sending for one of our artists who just had a baby. Of course, I would not make an ordinary salad the night before like a normal person might. Oh no. That would not do.
Another one of our artists had a baby last month (something in the water I guess) and when it was my salad day for her I decided to do an antipasto sort of thing since the main dish was to be lasagna. I filled up a bag with baby-sized peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes, pepperoncinis, provolone cheese and thinly sliced salami plus a bottle of balsamic vinaigrette and bagged Italian salad mix.
Today I had no idea what I was gonna do to go with the chicken pot pie someone else was providing as the main dish. But I figured inspiration would strike as I wandered the aisles at the grocery store.
Fresh produce brings me joy. And feeding others brings me joy. For nearly 45 minutes, I meandered through the produce section, collecting baby cucumbers again (who can resist their crunchy cuteness?), blackberries - on special today 2 for $1 - sugar snap peas, Babybel cheeses and baby Romaine lettuce. I snagged a bag of salad "accents" (toasted almonds and other crunchy bits with some sort of Asian seasoning). I scanned the refrigerated dressings and the selection several aisles over. None of those bottled dressings seemed quite right so I picked up my favorite rice vinegar and then wheeled to the baking aisle (why no olive oil near the vinegars? makes no sense to me) for a small bottle of olive oil with perky packaging (on special!). It all went in the bag with suggestions for assembly.
I hope the new parents enjoy the veggies. And with some good cold medicine and lots of fluids and rest this weekend, I'm looking forward to a full recovery so I can enjoy squeezing a baby soon. Maybe next week!
-- A. Choo
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Unitary Alignment
Coming soon....
In just a matter of hours it will be
1:11 on 11/11/11
and 10 hours later
11:11 on 11/11/11
And in the United States (at least if you are not in the military) it repeats:
1:11 on 11/11/11
and again
11:11 on 11/11/11
In just a matter of hours it will be
1:11 on 11/11/11
and 10 hours later
11:11 on 11/11/11
And in the United States (at least if you are not in the military) it repeats:
1:11 on 11/11/11
and again
11:11 on 11/11/11
All together that is 38 ones in alignment in just one day!
1:1111/11/1111:1111/11/111:1111/11/1111:1111/11/11
This must be some kind of good luck, don't you think? Certainly worthy of a toast!
Cheers and here's to cosmic unitary alignment!
Cheers and here's to cosmic unitary alignment!
Goodnight rooms
Being lulled to sleep with the quiet whoosh whoosh of the dishwasher is one of my favorite things. Right after I go through the house and turn off lights and check doors ... and survey the undone projects ... I lie in bed, imagining myself being tossed by the sudsy waves, and say goodnight to all the rooms and the memories they evoke. With my eyes closed, there are no dust bunnies lurking in the corners. No petrified bits of cat barf. No fur-covered sofas. No piles of laundry.
Goodnight, pretty maple floors.
Goodnight, partially cleaned guest room with the curtain rod that still needs to be hung.
Goodnight, library filled with books.
Goodnight, flower-festooned walls upstairs.
Goodnight, slate tile over the landing floor my nephews built.
Goodnight, funky turquoise sink in my bedroom, surrounded by seashells and photos of special people.
Goodnight, drafty windows with the nifty latches.
Goodnight, rooms.
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